Other Voices: Midterm enthusiasm appears high

THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

Tuesday

Nov 6, 2018 at 2:00 AM

Voters are presented with starkly different visions for our country.

A light has been turned on. For some, it’s a bulb. For others, it’s bright blue emergency flashers. Either way, voter excitement for today’s midterm election has approached that of a presidential election year.

It’s apparent in the political rallies, early voting and in social and traditional media: Voters seem more tuned in to a non-presidential election than we’ve ever seen.

There’s little question what’s going on. Voters are being presented with starkly different visions for our country, and unusually tight races in many cases. Rising polarization of the political parties and personalities also is driving interest and passion.

The real question is, is this the new normal? Will today set a new benchmark for voter participation? Is civic engagement here to stay?

Let’s hope so. But for that to happen, participation needs to be fueled not only by passing passions but by an enduring sense of civic duty — not self-interest — as well as a realization that a self-governed nation is only as robust as its citizens’ involvement.

Ours is an exceptional system because of the wisdom of our Constitution and other founding documents that recognize and protect our most fundamental human rights. This is why so many come here or yearn to do so.

This light must be an eternal flame that we keep lit. We owe it to our forebears, ourselves and those to come. Informed voting is a great start — and we certainly urge you not to sit this one out.

But it’s only a start. Keep this light on, long after today. Keep up on the news, bone up on candidates and issues, volunteer for a candidate you believe in — or run for office yourself.

This election can be a great awakening, if we let it — and if we’re truly committed to our job, which is helping run the greatest nation in the world. It can’t stay the greatest unless there’s a renaissance of civics.

With any luck, we’re seeing the start of it.

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